Dilema, dont know what to choose between the two

[JimmySidewalk]

I'm planning on buying a car.
I may be in the situation of choosing between the following two.

So, what would you choose between a camaro 2ss rs 2010 or 2011 and a 2008 mercedes sl550.

Obviously the mercedes has more to offer in terms of technology, comfort and power, but still the muscle feeling the camaro gives is unique and irreplaceble.
Also, the mercedes is a two seatter, which i kind of regard as a disadvantage. Not that i would use the backseats very often, but i like to know that its there in case i need it.

I am also wondering which will keep its value better over time. Because at some point(4-5 years) i will sell the car for a newer one.

Any thoughts guys ? And please argument your choice.

[phoenix44]

I'm planning on buying a car.
I may be in the situation of choosing between the following two.

So, what would you choose between a camaro 2ss rs 2010 or 2011 and a 2008 mercedes sl550.

Obviously the mercedes has more to offer in terms of technology, comfort and power, but still the muscle feeling the camaro gives is unique and irreplaceble.
Also, the mercedes is a two seatter, which i kind of regard as a disadvantage. Not that i would use the backseats very often, but i like to know that its there in case i need it.

I am also wondering which will keep its value better over time. Because at some point(4-5 years) i will sell the car for a newer one.

Any thoughts guys ? And please argument your choice.

Well the Mercedes is already 4 years old so by the time you sell it it's gonna be 9 years old. And will have lost most of its value.
And who doesn't love raw horsepower of the Camaro.

[phoenix44]

Not sure of your a BMW fan but the newer hard top convertibles are very nice fit and finish for the summer and winter.

[DCI]

Not sure of your a BMW fan but the newer hard top convertibles are very nice fit and finish for the summer and winter.

Yeh, I'd have a 335i as fast as the old M3 E46 as standard with some mods like remap and maybe if there a good bit cheaper than the Camaro or merc you couls spend some money on bigger turbos and IC's and get around 450bhp from an engine that would still be fairly good on juice.

[MHouse]

I would normally go for a Benz, but I feel like the SL is too feminine or too old of a car for me. Not old in the sense of the car looks old, but I think it's okay if an older guy is driving it. I love the E, S, CL, CLS and SLS, but the lines to the SL are just a little too soft for me. Personally, I would go with the Camaro. If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?

[gixxerboy1]

benz with out a doubt. I dont think the camaro is good looking at all. But the benz is more stylish. Has more power, probably handles better. And its a convertible. And benz's hold their value more then a then a dime a dozen chevy

[JohnnyVegas]

I like the Camaro, but will never own one because there are three at every intersection in this town. I value exclusivity, so I would go with the SL for sure.

[phoenix44]

benz with out a doubt. I dont think the camaro is good looking at all. But the benz is more stylish. Has more power, probably handles better. And its a convertible. And benz's hold their value more then a then a dime a dozen chevy

Benz's actually don't hold value that well. . Look up a 03 SL which is 5 years older than the 08 he is looking at, which is the equivalent of when he would sell. You can get them for 20k or less all day long.

Not sure if you can understand my gibberish there but not sure how to explain any other way.

Also guys look girly in a small 2 seat convertible kinda like driving a Miata.

[phoenix44]

Also depends how tall you are. Look kinda funny at 6'4" in a SL

[gixxerboy1]

Benz's actually don't hold value that well. . Look up a 03 SL which is 5 years older than the 08 he is looking at, which is the equivalent of when he would sell. You can get them for 20k or less all day long.

Not sure if you can understand my gibberish there but not sure how to explain any other way.

Also guys look girly in a small 2 seat convertible kinda like driving a Miata.

i've owned 2 benzes and the wife has 1 now. I never took a beating on 1.

[Hazard]

Except for the 69 camaro ss all other camaro's blow a giant asshole. I'm a mustang guy myself.... but ford did an excellent job with the direction they took the stangs. I feel like chevy jumped on the bandwagon and figured the camaro would blow up..... you see alot of them but most are shitty 6 bangers. The car is ugly too.....

Go with the Benz all the way..... it screams class. Even if I had a choice of a stang and a benz.... I'd still take the benz..... unless it was a gt500 stang lol.

~Haz~

[Hazard]

The camaro screams "I'm a man child" - The Benz screams "I'm a grown up with style"

~Haz~

[phoenix44]

The camaro screams "I'm a man child" - The Benz screams "I'm a grown up with style"

~Haz~

I disagree I think the Mercedes screams this is my wife's car.
It's too small. There are plenty of sweet benz's that guys drive.

[songdog]

I would get the Dodge 4x4 better all around

[gixxerboy1]

I disagree I think the Mercedes screams this is my wife's car.
It's too small. There are plenty of sweet benz's that guys drive.

i guess it depends how big you are. It is a small car but i fit in it fine. I was never in a camaro. But from the outside they are huge looking and sit so high. The car is an abortion of a sports car

[phoenix44]

Lol don't get me wrong I like Mercedes but my buddies who have had them haven't had much luck with them.
I'm looking at a carrera S. 0-60 in like 2.7s and not many of them around especially up here in Ohio. It's gonna be a year or 2 before I pull the trigger.

[DanB]

never mind any of them

nissan gtr every time

[AD]

are they in the same price range? i would prefer the camaro to the merc. maybe bcos its not available where i come from. whereas the merc you'll see on the street at every corner.

but since DanB gave us a third choice... GTR! definitely!

[JohnnyVegas]

Lol don't get me wrong I like Mercedes but my buddies who have had them haven't had much luck with them.
I'm looking at a carrera S. 0-60 in like 2.7s and not many of them around especially up here in Ohio. It's gonna be a year or 2 before I pull the trigger.

My wife has a 996 C2. I love the S and wish she would get a 997...but now she is looking at older ones. Trying to find a white 930 turbo.

never mind any of them

nissan gtr every time

I run with a few GT-Rs. Great performers, but no soul. Would love to have one though.

Back to the original subject, I think it has more to do with how you want to be perceived than anything else. Hard for me to imagine someone getting out of a Camaro in a suit.

[JimmySidewalk]

I'm 26, about 5'11-6' a lean 200-220 pounds(depeding on diet aproach). The price range for the two is about the same.
So... dilema not solved. Still dont know what to choose. You all make valid points.
See, the thing is i come from europe, where you see mercedes everywhere. Of course you dont see sl's very often but i never saw a camaro honestly. In USA i guess its the other way around.
On the other hand beeing that i will buy the car for USA use, it would seem more normal to choose the camaro considering that finding parts will be easier and cheaper. But then again, the mercedes is less likely to brake down considering how well its built. Plus the benz comfort offered cant even be compared to the camaro. We're talking full electrical seats, heated/cooled seats, nav, and many more other. The thing is, i'm a simple guy, i'm not into gadges and stuff, so although advanced tech is good, its not something i would die for. I prefer the utility of things.

[DSM4Life]

Never really been a benz guy but I do love the BMW's.

[JimmySidewalk]

Some bmw's look great on the outside. For example drove the 6 series convertible, which is supposed to be top noch, right ? It was a 2007. The exterior is nice, but the interior is like a 90's car. Very rugged,blocky aspect to it. I once had a 2001 3 series that seriously looked like an '80s car inside. Probably the newer models are have nicer interiors now, but if you compare the interior of a benz and a bmw of the same year, the bmw is just out of its league. Even though the exterior might be nicer sometimes depending on model.

[F4iGuy]

That camaro is terrible. Overweight, underpowered, overpriced, etc. Why not a used Corvette? There are plenty of garage queens if you're worried about reliability. Cheaper insurance, faster, lighter... not sure why people like the newer Camaro. Serious questions though why do you want a newer Camaro?

[Shol'va]

Go for a 2004 Ford Lightning. It's got 360 factory hp with a roots-eaton supercharger. You can add a chip, long tube headers, and power pulleys bring the HP up to 500 easily. It's a beast

[phoenix44]

Go for a 2004 Ford Lightning. It's got 360 factory hp with a roots-eaton supercharger. You can add a chip, long tube headers, and power pulleys bring the HP up to 500 easily. It's a beast

Actually 01-04 had 380hp. I had a 2000 it was my favorite vehicle of all time. Chip, pulley, filter and your in the 12's

[lovbyts]

Except for the 69 camaro ss all other camaro's blow a giant asshole. I'm a mustang guy myself.... but ford did an excellent job with the direction they took the stangs. I feel like chevy jumped on the bandwagon and figured the camaro would blow up..... you see alot of them but most are shitty 6 bangers. The car is ugly too.....

Go with the Benz all the way..... it screams class. Even if I had a choice of a stang and a benz.... I'd still take the benz..... unless it was a gt500 stang lol.

~Haz~

Now I have to disagree with you on that one. I got my 67 Camaro in 1979, tore out the 302 and put in a 327 with a turbo 400. Only thing I regreted was selling it after doing 90% of a FULL restoration in 2000 right before the value went through the roof. I personalty likes the smother rounder lines of the 67, 68 than the 69 although I would not turn one down if I had the chance to get it for the right price.
After 1969 it was all down hill IMO.

A co worker of mine has a new 2012 Camaro SS and it looks OK but like said, everyone has one even if it's a special edition or whatever. One thing is it's a POS if there is even a trace of snow. He said he couldnt hardly get out of a flat parking lot. LOL

never mind any of them

nissan gtr every time

I like those, very stylish and not just another run of the mill looking car, looks almost exotic. Some good ground effects and it's sweet. I'm trying to find a good excuse and the time to get a body kit for my 91 ******* RT TT. It was ahead of it's time in looks, power and handling and still holds it's own compared to any new sports car I think.

[JimmySidewalk]

Well the thing is i always liked the older camaros, '68 ones the most. Problem is.. they are old cars, we have to admitt it. Not that safe, non that comfy, too plain and rugged. Its the kind of ride you go and bust it up a little bit alone, but when you are considering the car as a daily driver and with a girlfriend/wife passager, or maybe even driver, it just doesnt work. That's why i thought of the new camaro. I really like the exterior, but as i said the interior is kind of simple. Considering i'm not american, dont like SUVs, trucks and so on.
I dont plan on modding it too much because i will sell it at some point because i actually have my eye on something else, but that'll be affordable about the time i'll be selling the camaro/benz. So i dont see the point in spending tons of $ in a car you arent going to keep. And we all know that potential buyers dont really value the real price tag of modds. I see modded cars all the time taken apart and back to stock just because its better to sell the performance parts separately.

I am going to drive the car in WA state, so consider snow too, but from what i heard if you get a good pair of blizzack tires, you'll be fine. But in this situation i think the 2 cars are the same, both RWD, benz even more horse than camaro, the stability systems and all that i think they'r the same.

[lovbyts]

Well the thing is i always liked the older camaros, '68 ones the most. Problem is.. they are old cars, we have to admitt it. Not that safe, non that comfy, too plain and rugged. Its the kind of ride you go and bust it up a little bit alone, but when you are considering the car as a daily driver and with a girlfriend/wife passager, or maybe even driver, it just doesnt work. That's why i thought of the new camaro. I really like the exterior, but as i said the interior is kind of simple. Considering i'm not american, dont like SUVs, trucks and so on.
I dont plan on modding it too much because i will sell it at some point because i actually have my eye on something else, but that'll be affordable about the time i'll be selling the camaro/benz. So i dont see the point in spending tons of $ in a car you arent going to keep. And we all know that potential buyers dont really value the real price tag of modds. I see modded cars all the time taken apart and back to stock just because its better to sell the performance parts separately.

I am going to drive the car in WA state, so consider snow too, but from what i heard if you get a good pair of blizzack tires, you'll be fine. But in this situation i think the 2 cars are the same, both RWD, benz even more horse than camaro, the stability systems and all that i think they'r the same.

LOL, then maybe you saw my co worker in the ditch a couple of months ago when it snowed because that's where we are. Blizaks are OK but there are better cheaper tires IMO. 90% of driving in the snow is also knowing how to drive. I kept telling him he needs to lower his tire pressure but he has not mechanical sense and kept saying he cant because they are Z rated. LOL I told him my tires on my ******* are also z rated and I drop them down to 20 lbs without any issues. I tried to explain it the same way as we do when you go into the sand but he wont get it, even after skidding into the ditch. Didnt want to hurt his tires. lol

If you see me playing in the snow or sun dont be afraid to give me a shout. I love passing most 4x4 up hills in the snow. My ******* is AWD and AWS and with the combination of lowered tire pressure and good all weather tires does great in the snow.

[JimmySidewalk]

I'm used to driving in the snow, the winters i experienced in europe we're quite the thing. I also said that if people dont know how to drive in the snow its not because of the car, its because of the driver and improper equipped cars.

I always go for snow tires and lower tire pressure, i mean that's "standard" procedure in my opinion. Then, if it gets real tough, you go for studded tires, but i dont think that's the case in WA(seattle).

I mean, you know how many youtube videos there are of cars sliding like sleds on capitol hill. Its beyond me how people still dont get the message and go for the right equipment and driving techniques.

[SEOINAGE]

I'd go for a benz, but the sl isn't my favorite.

[gixxerboy1]

if your not planning on keeping the car very long you may be better off leasing the camaro.
I'm not sure what they have for stability traction control. I know the benz's system is good.

[gixxerboy1]

Now I have to disagree with you on that one. I got my 67 Camaro in 1979, tore out the 302 and put in a 327 with a turbo 400. Only thing I regreted was selling it after doing 90% of a FULL restoration in 2000 right before the value went through the roof. I personalty likes the smother rounder lines of the 67, 68 than the 69 although I would not turn one down if I had the chance to get it for the right price.
After 1969 it was all down hill IMO.

a 70 split bumper is one of my favorites

[jasc]

Get the Benz

I had a late 90's Camaro n had problems left n right. It was a blast to drive n sounded mean as hell, but I had electrical problems daily. I probably replaced every sensor on that thing atleast twice n in the winter time it was completely worthless. Had so many problems I refuse to buy American cars (GM, Ford, Chrysler).. since then, nothin but Hondas n Toyotas n never had a problem.

[JD250]

I once owned a 67 firebird, 326 ram air.....a 70 mustang and a couple AMXs......wish I still had them.

Buy a jeep.

[lovbyts]

a 70 split bumper is one of my favorites

Yeah there are a few years here and there that have their niche in the muscle car era but that's basically it. I was trying to remember what one year after the 69 radical body change that was also a collector item, the 70 split bumper was it.

[JimmySidewalk]

What's the difference between leasing and financing a car from a dealer or better yet making a loan to the bank to pay off the dealer ?

[gixxerboy1]

well if you are buying the car you are paying for the whole car.
if you lease it you agree on a lease term. 24 month, 36 months what ever it is. you then just pay for the amount the car would depreciate in those years. Then you give the car back. Its like a long term rental.

[JimmySidewalk]

this sounds good. But what if you wreck the car during that time ? Or how do they calculate how it will depreciate ?

[lovbyts]

There are pros and cons to both. I think it all depends on the individuals needs, what you plan on doing with the car, estimated value, resale and how the contract is written.

Some leases have a low mileage limitations and if you plan on driving it a lot you may have to pay quite a bit in fees. It's also not worth it if you plan on not driving it and letting it sit in the garage. You have to figure out your needs and future expectation.

You can calculate future depreciation based on like models (apples to apples) from a few years ago. Go back 3 years looking at the same basic car and see how much it sold for and what the value is now.

[gixxerboy1]

this sounds good. But what if you wreck the car during that time ? Or how do they calculate how it will depreciate ?

insurance covers it just like if it was financed.
im not sure how it works out the depreciation.
like lovebyts said about mileage you have to figure that out also. You can get leases that allow for different mileage.
typically on keeping a car for just a few years it makes sense to lease.